Mailbox



J 8, 1957 M. P. BABCOCK MAILBOX Filed Aug. 17, 1954 Maurice R Babcac/r IN V EN TOR.

Uited States;

atent MAILBOX MauriceP. Babcock, Springfield, S. Dak.

Application August 17, 1954, Serial No. 450,324

9 Claims. (Cl. 232-35) This invention relates in general to improvementsin mail box constructions, and more specifically. to an improved mail box construction including a door actuated flag.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved mail box construction which includes a novel door hinge mechanism, the door hinge mechanism having associated therewith a flag operated by the hinge mechanism.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved fiag arrangement for mail boxes, .the flag arrangement being of such a nature whereby operation thereof is automatic in response to opening of the door of the mail box. a

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved door and flag construction which is of such a nature whereby it may be quickly and easily attached to existing type mail boxes or may be readily incorporated in new mail boxes.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a top perspective view'of a mail box incorporating the door and flag construction which is the subject of this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the forward portion of the mail box of Figure 1 and shows the relationship of the various parts for hingedly mounting the door of the mail box;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the forward portion of the mail box of Figure l and shows the door thereof in an open position and the flag thereof in a lowered position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 2 and shows the details of the mounting for the flag;

Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of one of the mounting brackets for attaching a hinge member to the mail box proper; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged slightly rotated perspective view of the lower portion of the flag.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated a mail box construction which incorporates the door and flag assembly which is the subject of this invention, the mail box construction being referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The mail box construction 10 includes a conventional mail receptacle which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 11. The mail receptacle 11 includes a pair of side walls 12 connected together by an arched top wall 14. The mail receptacle 11 is provided with an open forward end 16.

Normally closing the open forward end 16 of the mail rece tacle 11 is a door which is referred to in general by 2. V the reference numeral 18. The door 18 includes a front wall 20, side wallforming portions 22 and a top wall forming portion24, the wall forming portions 22 and 24 overlying the side walls 12 and the top wall 14, respectively, of the mail receptacle 11, when thedoor 18 is disposed in closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The door 18 is hingedly mounted for movement to an open position partially overlying the top wall 14 through an endless link 26 which overlies the top Wall 14 and the top wall forming portion 24. The'ends of the link 26 are pivotally mounted in a bracket 28 carried by the top wall 14 and a bracket 30 carried by the top wall forming portion 24.

The door 18 is further hingedly mounted through the use of a U-shaped hinge member 32. The hinge member 32 has an intermediate portion extending through and pivotally engaging the lower portion of the door 18, and arms 34 extending upwardly along the side walls 12 exteriorly of the mail receptacle 11. The arms 34 are pivotally connected to mounting brackets 36 carried by the side walls 12.

As is best illustrated in Fig. 5, each of the mounting brackets 36 is generally channel-shaped in cross section and includes a main body portion 38 which has formed integral with the sides thereof, and projecting substantially perpendicular thereto, a relatively short flange 40 and a relatively long flange 42, Fig. 5. Connected to the flanges 40 and 42, and projecting substantially perpendicularly outward relative thereto, are mounting flanges44 and 46, respectively. The mounting flanges 44 and 46 are provided with apertures 48 through which suitable fasteners such as screws or bolts 50 pass for securing the mounting bracket 36 to the side wall 12.

In order to indicate to the mail carrier that there is mail to be picked up in the mail receptacle 11, there is provided a signal flag which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 52. The signal flag 52 includes a standard 54 having a flag 56 carried at the upper end thereof. The standard 54 is provided at its lower end with a substantially U-shaped first hook portion 56 which opens upwardly when the signal flag 52 isin upright position as shown in Fig. 1. A second substantially U-shaped hook portion 58 is also disposed at the lower end of the standard 54 and opens downwardly when the signal flag 52 is disposed in the aforementioned raised position, Fig; 1. The hook portions 56 and 58 are disposed at right angles to each other and have a common leg 66, the leg 60 and the standard 54 being disposed in a common plane and defining an elongated recess, and the leg 66 and the other leg 68 of the hook portion 58 being disposed in another common plane which is substantially perpendicular to the first mentioned plane, Figs. 1 and 2.

In order that the legs 34 of the hinge member 32 may be pivotally connected to the mounting brackets 36, they terminate in substantially perpendicularly inturned ends 62. The ends 62 extend through, and are pivotally received in apertures 64 formed in the body portions 38 of the mounting brackets 36, Figs. 1, 2 and 5.

When the signal flag 52 is properly mounted on the mail receptacle 11, the end 62 of one of the arms 34 of the hinge member 32 is received in the hook 56, and the hook 58 is engaged over the upper edge portion of the body portion 38 of the bracket 36 through which the end 62 of the aforementioned one arm 34 extends, the book 58 being disposed between the flanges 40 and 42, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The upper edge portion of the body portion 38 is provided with anotch or recess 66 in'which the hook 58 seats, the notch 66 and the hook 58 affording abutment members effective to retain the flag 52 in an upright position.

As is best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6, the leg 68 0f the hook 58 extends downwardly alongside the outer surface of the body portion 38 of the mounting bracket 36 to which the signal flag 52 is attached, when the signal flag 52 is disposed in raised position. The leg 68 overlies the end portion of the adjacent arm 34 remote from the door 18, and is engaged by that arm 34 when the door 18 is moved to its open position of Fig. 3. The engagement of the leg 68 by the arm 34 results in the unseating of the second hook portion 58 from the notch 66 and the resultant tripping or lowering of the signal flag 52. As is best illustrated in Fig. 5, the upper edge portion of the body portion 38 of the mounting bracket 36 is provided with a curved portion 70 to afford proper clearance for the portion 58 of the flag 52. When the flag 52 is lowered, the hook portion 56 pivots about the end 62.

It is to be understood that the flag 52, as illustrated in Fig. 4, has just been engaged by the arm 34 and is moved upwardly preparatory to being lowered.

Inasmuch as practically all mail boxes are of standard size and shape, such as the mail container 11, it is readily apparent that the door construction as well as the signal flag arrangement may be attached to existing mail boxes. Furthermore, it is within the provision of this invention to utilize the door construction and the signal flag arrangement on new mail boxes.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerious modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A mailbox signal comprising a U-shaped mounting bracket securable to a mailbox side, a door hinge arm having an inturned end passing through said mounting bracket for pivotal movement, a signal flag, a flag standard supporting said flag, said standard having an upwardly open first hook portion disposed within the confines of said mounting bracket and receiving said end for pivotal movement thereabout, and a downwardly open second hook portion engaged over said mounting bracket and guided thereby, said second hook portion having a free end lying in the same plane as said hinge arm and above said hinge arm for engagement by said hinge arm for operation thereby.

2. A mailbox signal comprising a U-shaped mounting bracket securable to a mailbox side, a door hinge arm having an inturned end passing through said mounting bracket for pivotal movement, a signal flag, a flag standard supporting said flag, said standard having an upwardly open first hook portion disposed within the confines of said mounting bracket and receiving said end for pivotal movement thereabout, and a downwardly open second hook portion engaged over said mounting bracket and guided thereby, said second hook portion having a free end lying in the same plane as said hinge arm and above said hinge arm for engagement by said hinge arm for operation thereby, said mounting bracket including an upper edge having a notch, said second hook portion being normally seated in said notch.

3. A mailbox signal comprising a U-$haped mounting bracket securable to a mailbox side, a door hinge arm having an inturned end passing through said mounting bracket for pivotal movement, a signal flag, a flag standard supporting said flag, said standard having an upward ly open first hook portion disposed within the confines of said mounting bracket and receiving said end for pivotal movement thereabout, and a downwardly open second hook portion engaged over said mounting bracket and guided thereby, said second hook portion having a free end lying in the same plane as said hinge arm and above said hinge arm for engagement by said hinge arm for operation thereby, said mounting bracket having a curved upper and side edge engaged by said second hook portion, said side edge terminating in a side flange engageable by said standard and forming a stop therefor in a lowered position of said standard.

4. A mailbox signal comprising a U-shaped mounting bracket securable to a mailbox side, a door hinge arm having an inturned end passing through said mounting bracket for pivotal movement, a signal flag, a flag standard supporting said flag, said standard having an upwardly open first hook portion disposed within the confines of said mounting bracket and receiving said end for pivotal movement thereabout, and a downwardly open second hook portion engaged over said mounting bracket and guided thereby, said second hook portion having a free end lying in the same plane as said hinge arm and above said hinge arm for engagement by said hinge arm for operation thereby, said mounting bracket having a curved upper and side edge engaged by said second hook portion, said side edge terminating in a side flange engageable by said standard and forming a stop therefor in a lowered position of said standard, and a notch formed in said upper edge, said second hook portion being normally seated in said notch and retaining said standard in an upright position.

5. In a mail box embodying a mail receptacle having an open mail-receiving front end, a door normally closing said end, and hinge means, including an elongated arm connected to the lower end portion of said door and extending upwardly and rearwardly along one side of said receptacle, for swinging said door upwardly and rearwardly into open position relative to said front end, the combination of a mounting bracket forming part of said hinge means, said bracket having a central body portion, and means attaching said body portion to one side of said receptacle, one end of said arm being pivotally mounted on said body portion, and a flag pivotally mounted on said arm for pivotal movement thereon between a lowered position, wherein it rests on said attaching means, and a raised position, wherein it projects upwardly from said bracket, said body portion having a recess therein, said flag having an abutment member thereon engageable in said recess when said flag is disposed in said raised position to retain said flag in said raised position, said arm having another portion engageable with said flag in position to move said abutment member out of said recess and move said flag to lowered position when said door is moved from closed to open position.

6. A mail box comprising a mail receptacle having an open mail-receiving front end, a door normally disposed in closed position relative to said front end, hinge means pivotally mounting said door on said receptacle for movement between said closed position and an open position relative to said front end, said hinge means including a mounting bracket mounted on a side of said receptacle, said bracket having an upper edge portion having an upwardly opening recess therein, and an elongated arm having means on one end portion thereof projecting into said bracket and pivotally mounting said arm for pivotal movement in a vertical are around said bracket, said arm projecting downwardly and forwardly from said bracket, when said door is in said closed position, and having another end portion pivotally attached to the lower end portion of said door, and an elongated signal flag having an upper end portion and a' lower end portion, said last mentioned lower end portion having an elongated longitudinally extending recess therein, and an abutment member projecting laterally to the length of said flag, said flag having a raised position in which said flag projects upwardly from said bracket with said abutment member disposed in said first mentioned recess, and a lowered position wherein said flag projects rearwardly from said bracket with said abutment member disposed out of engagement with said first mentioned recess, said last mentioned means projecting into said elongated recess in position to pivotally mount said flag for pivotal movement between said raised and lowered positions, and said abutment member being disposed in such position on said flag that when said flag is disposed in said raised position and said door is moved from said closed position to said open position said arm engages said abutment member in position to move the latter out of said first mentioned recess and to swing said flag from said raised position to said lowered position.

7. A flag structure for use on mail boxes, and the like, comprising a mounting bracket having a rearwardly and downwardly curved upper edge portion and an upwardly opening recess in said upper edge portion, pivot means mounted in said bracket, and a signal flag including an elongated standard, said standard having an elongated longitudinally extending recess in one end portion thereof, and an abutment member projecting laterally to the length of said standard, said means projecting into said elongated recess in position to pivotally support said standard for movement between a raised position, wherein said standard projects upwardly from said bracket and said abutment member is disposed in said first mentioned recess, and a lowered position, wherein said standard rejects at a downward angle from that of said raised position, said abutment member projecting outwardly from said bracket in position to be engaged outwardly of said bracket and moved out of said first mentioned recess and rearwardly along said upper edge portion, to thereby swing said standard from said raised to said lowered position.

8. A flag structure for use on mail boxes, and the like, comprising a mounting bracket having a rearwardly and downwardly curved upper edge portion and an upwardly opening recess in said upper edge portion, pivot means mounted in said bracket, and a signal flag including an elongated standard, said standard having an upwardly opening hook on one end portion thereof, and a downwardly opening hook on said one end portion thereof, said means projecting into said upwardly opening hook to pivotally support said standard for pivotal movement between an upright position and a lowered position, said upper edge portion of said bracket being disposed in said downwardly opening hook in position to guide said standard between said upright and lowered positions and in such position that, when said standard is in upright position, said downwardly opening hook rests in said recess.

9. A mail box comprising elongated mail receptacle having a front end, a door normally disposed on said receptacle in position to close said front end, means pivotally mounting said door on said receptacle for movement between said closed position and an open position wherein said door is disposed substantially horizontally on top of said receptacle, said means including two mounting brackets mounted on opposite sides of said receptacle, and two elongated arms, each of said arms having one end pivotally mounted on one of said brackets and said arm projecting downwardly and forwardly therefrom when said door is disposed in said closed position, each of said arms having another end pivotally mounted on the lower end portion of said door, a signal flag mounted on one of said brackets for rotation between a raised position and a lowered position, complementary abutment means on said flag and said bracket engageable with each other when said flag is disposed in said raised position for holding said flag in said raised position, and means on said fiag and one of said arms in position to disengage said abutment means and move said flag to said lowered position when said flag is disposed in said raised position during movement of said door from said closed to said open position. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

